It's been a while.

So, almost a year and a half has gone by since my first post. Seven months since my last post. Where have I been. Well, I've been gaming a ton. And, I can say that I have stayed on top of every new game I have picked up so far this year, of which there have been many.

It was a productive weekend and I actually finished both Metal Gear Solid The Twin Snakes and Resident Evil The Umbrella Chronicles.

Now back to being lazy and infrequently updating this blog. After I pick up Uncharted 3 and Assassin's Creed Revelations I should be able to get back into some older stuff.

Here is my updated list, soon to include Batman Arkham City.

X-Box 360
Castle Crashers

Wii
Madworld
The Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess

PS2
Fatal Frame 2
Fatal Frame 3
Half Life
Haunting Ground
Obscure
Psychonauts
Resident Evil 4
Rise of Kasai

X-Box
Darkwatch

Game Cube
Killer 7

PS1
Dino Crisis
Dino Crisis 2
Parasite Eve 2

Busy Beaver

I knocked quite a few games out recently. Four! Though I may have cheated a little since 3 out 4 where very short PSN games.

First up was:

Game Title:  Casltevania, Lords of Shadow
Published by: Konami

I remember playing Castlevania at the arcade in the late 80s.  I sucked at it.  Then I played Castlevania 2 on the NES.  I sucked at it.  I hadn't played a Castlevania game since.  So, why did I finally decide to pick up this game?  Because Kojima Productions was involved and since Hideo Kojima is a genius, and I love his Metal Gear games, I figured why not.  Plus, I got it for free back when Toys R Us had a "Buy 2, Get 1" free sale last October.

I finally got around to playing this about mid-February.  Needless to say, I could have waited a bit longer.  Not that this was a bad game at all, just very unoriginal.  Though I did come to enjoy myself by the end, I couldn't help but see influences from a bunch of other games:  God of War, Devil May Cry, Prince of Persia, Darksiders, Shadow of the Colossus, etc).  It took a little bit of the enjoyment out of the game.

The story was a little generic and I wondered how Patrick Stewart felt while reading the schlocky narrative.

A fun, albeit, unoriginal game that I am happy I didn't pay any money for.  Plus, the ending is kinda cool.

Up next:

Game Title: Costume Quest
Developed By:  DOUBLE FIIIIINE!!!

This was a refreshing change of pace.

From the crazy minds behind Psychonauts and Brutal Legend comes Costume Quest.  It's a very cute, short, RPG.  The story is you and your sister go out on Halloween, she is kidnapped by Grubbins, and you and your friends have to save her.  When going into battle with the Grubbins, you become your costume and kick all kinds of ass.  You can be a robot, a knight, the Statue of Liberty, a cat, a vampire, a unicorn, and a bunch of other creatures. It's all good fun.

The game play is simple and yet there is still some strategy involved in beating some enemies.  The game is short, but not so short you feel like you don't get enough of it.  I finished in about 6 hours with all trophies.  There is also DLC, which I will definitely be getting.

If you're looking for something fun, give Costume Quest a download.

Third Game:

Game Title:  Blade Kitten (episode 1)
Developed By: Krome Studios

Blade Kitten was a ton of fun as well.  Very anime inspired. You play a cat girl who is a bounty hunter.  The voice acting was great, better than I expected and the game play was also fun.

This game reminded me of 16 bit era platforms on the Genesis, where the levels didn't seem to have a reason to how they were laid out, but you still wound up finishing each one.

This was another game I finished in about 6 hours and look forward to episode two.

Last, but not least:

Game Title: Shank
Developed By: Klei Entertainment

Shank is a nod to beat 'em ups of old, like Double Dragon.  You are Shank,a  tough hombe who was left for dead and his girlfriend killed by his old gang.  It's very similar to the plot of Kill Bill Vol 1. Guy is part of bad ass gang, guy gets betrayed and left for dead by said gang, guy returns years later for revenge.

Shank is full of over the top violence and action.  You can kill guys will a chainsaw. You can feed guys grenades.  You and pounce on guys from across the screen and slice & dice them with your knife.

The boss battles are fun, and a few of them rather difficult.  The graphics, while simple looking, are really greaty looking.  The characters are pretty cliched for the genre but it serves it's purpose.

And, the game is short.  I spent three and a half hours on it and finished the game on normal.  There is a harder difficulty but I am afraid of that one.

Next Level:  Borderlands, Game of the Year edition

Viva le Saboteur!

Game Title:  The Saboteur

Developed by: Pandemic Studios (R.I.P.)

I will start off in the spirit of Saboteur main character, Sean Devlin, and say that this game was feckin' awesome. Take two parts Grand Theft Auto, 1 part Just Cause, and a dash of Assassin's Creed, shake vigorously, and viola:  The Saboteur!

You play as Sean Devlin, a down on his luck Irish racecar driver who is bumming around 1940s Paris, which is under heavy, heavy Nazi occupancy.  Sean's best friend was killed by Kurt Dierker, an Aryan poster boy who robbed Sean on placing first in a race.  Sean and his buddy went to exact some revenge, crashed Dierker's car, and we captured. Dierker thought they were really spies for the Brits, (I'm fuckin' Irish Sean tells the sour Kraut). Sean's world literally turns to shades of gray at the death of his best friend, which makes for some striking visuals when the game begins and with the jazzy soundtrack, really sets the tone for the rest of the game.

Sean gets roped in to helping the French resistance and what happens over the next 50+ hours of gameplay is pretty awesome indeed.

Sean makes his way around Paris, blowing up Nazi installations, assassinating Nazi generals, hijacking cars, and riddling 27,963 Nazis with about five times as many bullets.  All while scaling the buildings in Paris, sliding down electric wire to other buildings, and breaking Nazi necks so he can then sneak into a facility and plant remote control C4.

As Sean cleans up the Nazi garbage, areas of Paris regain their color.  Sean's dismal life becomes more meaningful as he continues to assist the Resistance and continues to blow up a ton of Nazi bastads.

The game was a great time.  I actually played enough to get the Platinum trophy, which could have been tedious with over 1,300 free play "missions" to do.  These ranged from blowing up Nazi snipernests to finding postcards near famous Parisian landmarks.  Boredom sets in and you can remedy that by stealing a car, running down some Nazi's, then heading to your secret backroom hidehout at "The Belle" a nice burlesque club where Sean is on a first name basis with the girls.  Tops are clothing optional so if you like e-boobies, enter the free DLC code that comes with the game and leave the nudity turned "on."

My only problem with the game is that is ends suddenly.  You come face to face with Dierker, who has caused all the grief in your life, atop the observation deck at the Eiffel Tower.  Looks like a pretty epic battle should be next.  Not really.  You're instructed to "Kill Dierker" in which you fire a few shots at him and then a cut scene of his death is triggered.  Very anti-climatic after all the man hours spent blowing up Nazis.

All-in-all, if you're looking for a fun, inexpensive game ($20 or under will nab a copy of this for you) then give The Saboteur a try.

Next Level:  Castlevania, Lords of Shadow

I'm back! And, three games down!

I'm back. Boston was amazing. Throwdown life changing. I met a boat load of wonderful people. I'm going back for more in December.

I also got some gaming in. Three games finished since the last post.
Let's start with:

Game Title: Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood.
Published by: Ubisoft

Assassin's Creed is a series I've enjoyed since the first game was released in 2007.  The series has great visuals, a compelling story, and my favorite living voice actor, Nolan North!

Brotherhood picks up immediately after the events of Assassin's Creed 2.  If you haven't played AC2, please do yourself a favor and put down the $20 it runs now and play through it before started AC:B.  You'll be glad you did.

You're back in Ezio Auditore de Firenze's cape and hood and his life is in shambles.  His Villa has been destroyed by those pesky Borgia, his Uncle Mario killed during the assault, and the Templars are now in possession of the Apple of Eden, the most powerful weapon in the world.

It's up the Ezio to take over Rome, lead the Assassin's Guild to a better future, avenge his uncle, and retrieve the Apple of Eden back from the Borgia.

AC:B Brotherhood can be looked at as AC 2.5.  The game play hasn't changed, the control are the same.  A few new weapons have been added (i.e. now you can shoot poison darts, which is awesome).  The biggest changes to the franchise are the ability to recruit assassin's to your cause and multiplayer.

Recruiting assassin's is a lot of fun.  You start by saving a civilian from Borgia guards. They then dedicate themselves to your cause.  Then you can send them off for off-screen missions, gaining experience.  Once you've recruited two assassin's, you can call them to your aid during fights with guards.  Six assassin's brings you an "Arrow Storm" attack where when utilized, a rain of arrows comes pouring down off screen, killing all Borgia guards in the area.  This came in very handy when a mission told me if I wanted 100% synch, I had to kill 8 heavily armoured guards in 15 seconds or less...

Multiplayer is a whole different beast. While I normally shy away from MP, I decided to give it a try.  You select your character and blend in with the crowd. You are hunting a target and other assassin's are hunting you.  I couldn't figure it out very well, but I nailed two trophies.  I unfortunately won't be Platting AC: trophywise because there are too many trophies related to MP feats and I have other games to play.

AC:B was one of the best games I played in 2010 and I eagerly await the next installment, when ever that is released.

Game number two.

Game Title:  Marvel Ultimate Alliance
Published By:  Activision

Now here's an oldie from the PS3 first year in 2006, Marvel Ultimate Alliance.  A game from before Trophy Support.  It's a good, brainless beat 'em up game, very similar to the X-Men Legends games from the previous generation of counsels. 

MUA features a top down camera.  The game play is pretty simple, with you in control of one hero and three AI controlled heroes on your team.  Certain hero combos provide bonuses (i.e. play as the Fantastic Four, get a team bonus, X-men characters, a different team bonus, all girls, etc.).

The game is about 16 - 17 hours long and it's nothing more than a simple beat up every bad guy on the screen.  Sure, you unlock new powers, you can perform combo powers with other heroes, and use powers to solve some puzzles, but, the game remains a pure brainless buttonmasher.  Not that that's a bad thing at all.

If you like the Marvel character, this game is some good fun.  If you're looking for a great story, look some where else.  The story brings in a bunch of villains who normally don't have anything to do with each other but throws them together as the Masters of Evil, which reminds me of the old Acts of Vengeance cross-over Marvel did in the late 80s.  The Big Bad is Dr. Doom, who by game's end is wielding the Power Cosmic and has remade Earth into his own Planet Doom.

I think this game would be even more fun with three friends playing it with you.

Things do get tedious and the level designs are completely out of balance, with the first three Acts of the game being extremely long, which with a game where you're just beating everything up, gets old very quickly. The last two Acts go by so quickly you wonder if the designers themselves grew bored.

There are some cool visuals.  The battle with against Galactus on the Skrull homeworld is pretty nifty.

One word of advice, if you're playing this game on the PS3.  Turn of the "tilt" in the options.  The Six Axis response to this is horrendous and almost makes the game unplayable when you get to spots that require a Quicktime Event.

Last but not least, game number three.

Game Title:  Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2
Published By:  Activision

Yep, that's right. As soon as I finished Marvel Ultimate Alliance and popped in the sequel, released in 2009.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 took all the things that were a little wonky about 1 and made them better. Graphically the game is a lot more polished, controls handle better, character selection is great, mostly because they included Gambit and I pretty much played him the entire time.

The biggest improvement was the storyline.  This one made since, and followed the big cross-over from a few years ago "Civil War."  Here heroes have turned against each other after the U.S. makes a law that super heroes have to register their secret identities with them and undergo training to help better protect innocents.

The game is bigger and better than the first one, yet still incredibly tedious.  The formula isn't a bad one, the constant beat up, beat up, beat up.  The other three heroes in your party handle better and Fusion combos are easy to perform.

The game isn't as long as the first one and the length in levels is pretty easily balanced.  Unlike MUA1, I didn't find myself begging for a level to finally be over.

You are also given two options in the game, to be Pro or Anti Super Hero Registration Act.  I chose Anti for my first play through.  I may go back and play on the Pro setting but that's a ways in the future. I am on a schedule here.

Finally, to wrap things up, I already broke my resolution of now new games until I have a few more PS3 games under my belt.  Target had Guitar Hero Van Halen on clearance for $13.  I had to grab it.  It's all David Lee Roth era Van Halen, which I love and much like Rock Band, it will never be on the Shelf of Shame, so perhaps it doesn't count as breaking my resolution.  The biggest challenge is when Dead Space 2 is out next week. I just need to get a few more games knocked off the PS3 list and then I will be okay to pick something else up.

Next Level:  The Saboteur

Merry Christmas!

Or whatever you just happen to celebrate.

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is coming along nicely. Too bad I won't have it finished before Christmas. First some time with the family and then I will be in Boston for a few days, alone, making new friends.

What's going on in Boston, you ask?

THROWDOWN!!!

Have a great holiday everybody!

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception!!!

OMG OMG OMG

http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/12/09/uncharted-3-first-look/

Can't... type... too... much... excitement!

POWERSLIDE!!!!

Title: Vanquish

Developer: Platinum Games

Being a huge Resident Evil fan, I was pretty excited when I heard Shinji Mikami was putting out a new game, developed by the mad genius' behind the insanely amazing Bayonetta. I wound up being slightly disappionted but entertained nonetheless.

The game in reference is Vanquish. And, like Bayonetta, it's kinda nuts.

You are Sam Gideon, a DARPA scientist who helps work out the kinks in a battle suit. The battle suit is pretty rad, in boost you across the floor, in a Tenacious D style Power Slide, slows down time to kill enemies, and I think feeds small children too (maybe not on that last one).

The game play is great, is a cover-based third person shooter, but with a shit-load of speed and frenzy.

However, the story is your typical crazy Japanese hodge podge or Space Marines, Russian satellites, and conspiracies. You wade through wave after wave of the same robots. It made me think a bit of CAPCOM's Dark Void in that department.

I don't have much more to say about the game. I finished it almost two weeks ago and am now finally writing about it. I enjoyed it well enough, it was a nice distraction and I give major kudos to anybody who can finish it on Hell Mode.

Next Level: Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

Marky Mark as Nathan Drake?! I don't feel these vibrations.

As reported here:

http://kotaku.com/5698269/mark-wahlberg-will-be-nathan-drake-deniro-could-be-drakes-dad

I have nothing against Mark Wahlberg. I think he's a pretty good actor and I've enjoyed a number of his movies.

However, I love Uncharted. The games are simply amazing. The stories, the characters, graphics, game play, etc, etc, etc. Everything about them are just fantastic.

I don't have high hopes for this. Especialy the mention that Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci will play his "father" and "uncle." What gives. Both great actors with great movies under their belts. But, I can't see either guy the Uncharted universe.

So, here's my casting choices:

Nathan Drake: Nolan North
Sully: Bruce Campbell
Elena: Kristen Bell
Zoe: Claudia Black
Harry Flynn: James Marsters

Maybe not perfect, but it's my blog.

Just chock this up to another Hollywood video game adaptation that misses the mark.

No More Games for 2010?

I picked up Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood on Tuesday. After using $40 in gaming coupons from K-Mart I walked out of the store really happy with my purchase. The game has been getting fantastic reviews and I may actually take a dip into the multiplayer pool since it sounds like it's a pretty different experience from the normal "run & gun" most games present. The only thing standing between me and getting my stabby on is Vanquish, which I am about half way through and should have completed next weekend. A pesky family trip this weekend is keeping me from any gaming at all.

This purchase may just mark the end of my video games for 2010. Sure, I still want to pick up a few odds and ends, mostly Alan Wake and Deadly Conspiracy and possibly Splatterhouse next week, but for the most part I think I am good to go until Dead Space 2 is out at the end of January.

So, basically two months of uninterrupted game play. The shelf can only hopefully get smaller for the next 70 or so days.

2011 looks like it is shaping up pretty nicely too. Looking forward to Dead Space 2, L.A. Noire, The ICO/Shadow of the Colossus HD re-release, Gears of War 3, Batman: Arkham City, Uncharted 3, The Last Guardian and I'm sure a slew more I am either forgetting about or that haven't been announced yet but I know I will want.

It's been a very slow process but I'm enjoying it nonetheless.

More Bang for Your Buck?

Two games knocked out this weekend. I don't know if I will be able to do that again. It's a weird feeling.

Before this current generation of systems, most video games were released at a $50 price point. When the 360 hit, games went up to $60 each. The PS3 followed suit. That's quite a price increase, $10. No $55 rest stop, just ten smackers extra down.

For $60, you should really get more steak than sizzle. And, sometimes you do. This week, unfortunately, you don't. Or at least, I didn't.

Let's start off with game number one, or what I did on Saturday.

Game Title: Enslaved, Odyssey to the West

Developed By: Ninja Theory

I started the weekend with Ninja Theory's "Enslaved, Odyssey to the West," a post-apocalyptic take on the old Chinese myth "Journey to the West." Now, I'll be honest, most of my knowledge of Journey to the West comes from knowing it was one of the inspirations for Akira Toriyama's "Dragon Ball" series. Son Goku has a tail, an extending staff, and a flying cloud. All of this is present in Enslaved too, Monkey has a "tail", his staff can shoot plasma bolts, and his has an electronic disk that can skim over certain types of terrain that he calls "Cloud."

In our story, Monkey has been captured by slaving collecting Mechs. Why are they collecting slaves? We don't know. He encounters a young girl named Trip, who's good with technology (hey, it's the "Bulma" character from Dragon Ball) and they narrowly survive escaping the ship slaver ship before it crashes (thanks to some sabotage by Trip). Trip creates a headband that she uses to enslave Monkey, it's tied by her biometric system so if she dies, he dies. She can also kill him if he travels too far away from her.

Thus begins the duos journey through a destroyed New York City, to Trip's village, and into the wasteland beyond to discover exactly what "Pyramid" is.

The game reminded me much of Uncharted with it's beautiful visuals and easy to learn game controls. Having played Ninja Theory's previous PS3 outing "Heavenly Sword" I knew they were no slouches in these departments. The story was interesting, and it kept me wanting to keep playing all day. The only time I grew frustrated was when the level of difficulty seemed to suddenly ramp up from Chapter 5 to Chapter 6.

The voice acting was good, and with Andy Serkis (the actor behind Gollum in The Lord of the Rings movies) doing Monkeys mo-cap animation, you can't complain. I also wonder exactly how much time was spent making Trip's butt so perfect (sorry, perv alert).

My biggest complaint was I went through the story in under 10 hours. Pretty much one sitting. I say pretty much, because I played Chapter 1 last weekend to get a feel for the game. I feel a bit cheated that $60 only equated to 10 hours of game play. Sure, there's going back through on Hard and trying to achieve some more trophies, but I'm on a schedule here.

If you're interested in Enslaved, I recommend it for the great game play and gorgeous graphics but suggest waiting until it's dropped to around $30 because of the amount of time it takes to finish.

At least it was 1o hours well spent. Unlike Game 2, or, how I spent Sunday.

Game Title: Star Wars, The Force Unleashed II

Developed By: LucasArts

Here we have a follow up to Star Wars, The Force Unleashed, an enjoyable if albeit buggy outing in the Star Wars Extended Universe. The first game ended with the death of the main character, Starkiller. Yet, here's a sequel, with Starkiller back. How did he survive.

Clones.

Remember a time when there were only three Star Wars movies and the only thing we really knew about clones was that Luke's father and Obi-Wan had fought during the Clone Wars? Now there has been a movie released about it and various spin-offs. The whole clone thing has lost it's mystique in the SW universe, at least for me.

So, here we are, Force Unleashed 2, Vader is on Kamino, at the cloning facility, and here's Starkiller, still alive. Or is he a clone? Or, was the character from the first game the clone. Is Vader pulling the ultimate Jedi Mind Trick on Starkiller? Let's find out.

The game has some improvements over the very buggy first game. I never fell to my death, the jump mechanic had been greatly improved, and I didn't encounter any broken maps or have to restart the game because of bug made a end boss fall out of the screen.

While the game improved on mechanics, it's about half the length of the first game. Four levels is all we gets (Kamino, a Cloud City type place that leads to an arena, Dagobah, a star cruiser, and back to Kamino for the finale). Who cares about the so-so graphics, the okay story, and the improved game play when you can finish the game in under six hours. I've read some reports of 4 hours but I was trying to get some of the trophies for killing Stormtroopers in various fun ways with Jedi Powers so it took me 6. For a blockbuster release like the Force Unleashed 2, that's simply inexcusable for a $60 price tag. This should have been FU 1.5 or some more DLC for $20, not a $60 game. For shame, LucasArts.

The game winds up open-ended to boot and I don't know if I'll be back for a Force Unleashed 3, if and when it is released.

Definitely hold off on this game until it's in the $20 range. It's not worth full price at all.

All-in-all, a productive weekend video game wise but a disappointing weekend due to the length of both games. I feel like for 60 bones each, I should get a little more bang for my buck. However, this time, all I got was a whole lot of sizzle with Force Unleashed 2 and a quick appetizer with Enslaved.

Next Level: Vanquish

Want to know more? http://enslaved.namco.com/ www.lucasarts.com/games/theforceunleashed2/

Temporary distractions: Rock Band 3

Game Title: Rock Band 3

Developed by: Harmonix

I decided to fire up Rock Band 3, and the 360 for the first time in a few months, before I became too involved with Enslaved. Rock Band is one of those games that will never be part of the Shelf of Shame. It's something I pick up to kill time, play maybe 30 minutes or an hour at a time, and then put back down. To me, it's not a series with a definite end game; only something to be enjoyed. I've never tried to become really good at Rock Band, just settling for being great on medium guitar/bass, playing drums when I have some extra energy because Easy is hard for me, and singing my little Jack Black wannabe head off when we have "Rock Club."

Yes, I do a pretty impressive rendition of Master Exploder. Long Live the D!

Anyways, I had my wonderful wife pick up Rock Band 3 (and Force Unleashed 2) on Day 1 so I could get the $20 gaming coupons from each game at K-Mart. If you're reading this and want good video game deals, check out K-Mart. They've started giving out $20-25 gaming coupons, that stack, with AAA game releases. Let me put it this way... I'll only be paying about $5 for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood when it's out in two weeks thanks for K-Marts gaming coupons.

Wow, another tangent. Allow me to digress.

I fired up Rock Band 3, paid the extra 1o bones to export over the Rock Band 2 tracklist, and went to town. The first thing I noticed was that the career challenges were different. No longer are you just playing to earn as many points as possible and five stars. You are now playing for Spades too, which are awarded for completing certain tasks during each set list. Sometimes it's how long you can keep Overdrive going, or how many times you can activate Overdrive in one song, or keeping your unbroken note streak going. It's a nice change and make you work extra hard to get 100% on each song.

Other changes, which never really effected the games, are when the song in the set list changes from a male to female vocalist, the avatar also changes from a dude to a chick. And, as fun as it always was to watch the big lumberjack dude sing Paramore, it was always a tiny sore point. It has been fixed.

The largest change, for my Medium godliness that is, is the addition of the fifth (orange) note on the Medium setting. I was never able to get more coordination down enough to play these games on Hard, and since I play them for enjoyment I was always perfectly fine with just being an amazing Medium guitar guy. Alas, no longer will I only play four notes. All songs that come on the Rock Band 3 disk, and I'm going to assume any new DLC, has the fifth note in them, though not in any great abundance and it never gets too tricky. I see this as I a way for those who do want to eventually graduate to Hard setting to ease into it.

Enjoying the setlist too. I mean, Rock Lobster! Sold. Whip It! Gold Record, baby.

So, when Saturday hits, I'll be back on Enslaved and back onto the Shelf. However, until then, any downtime I have, will be dedicated to rocking and audience of one, out cat Monica.

Gears of Warbots.

Game Title: Transformers: War for Cybertron

Developed by: High Moon Studios

If there is one thing I love more than video games (and maybe even my wife) it's Transformers. I've been with the franchise since it started back in 1984, when I was 8. My love of Optimus Prime, Starscream, and all the rest of the Autobots and Decepticons never died.

I have a very odd relationship with Transformers though. As much as I love them, I only love certain "eras" of the franchise, most specifically the original G1 era, and even more specifically, the G1 era leading up to and including the 1986 animated feature film. Anything from the 1986 toyline on, my interest wains. Needless to say, because of this, I had never played a Transformers video game.

Until now...

When War for Cybertron was first announced, I was excited. After the last four years of suffering through Bayformers and all their little point angles and wrecking ball gonads, here we have the original bots, in Cybertronian mode, looking like their old selves again. Megatron with a fusion cannon on his arm, check. Starscream with an actual face so we can see his smarmy smirk, double check. A Bumblebee that doesn't sound like R2-D2 retarded cousin, triple check.

I dove right in to the narrative, goosebumps aplenty as the familiar voice of Peter Cullen's Optimus Prime (the one and only Prime) boomed over my home theatre system. Over the next 10 levels, my love for Transformers was further cemented into the bedrock of my geek foundation.

I enjoyed the game play, though it is very similar to other third person shooters like Gears of War or Resident Evil 5. The graphics were stellar, with the transformations from robot to vehicle and back handled by one button (and including smooth animation to boot), and the story was interesting enough to not be a rehash of something we've already seen before. Who hasn't wanted more on the war that started everything. We've always just had bits and pieces and now here's a whole game!

The game starts off with the Decepticons. Megatron and a couple of minions infiltrating an orbital station that can produce Dark Energon. Megatron succeeds in gaining control of the Dark Energon and begins using it to corrupt Cybertron's core. As the story progresses, we see Megatron bring the Autobots to their knees, defeating their leader, Zeta Prime, and capturing their powerhouse guardian, Omega Supreme. Can the soldier known only as Optimus and his ragtag group of Autobots turn the tide of the Decepticon onslaught and save Cybertron? Play and find out.

The only part of the game I can't comment on is the multiplayer. I've no interest in it.

From level design to character avatars to story, Transformers; War for Cybertron is a definite must play, especially if you love the characters like I do.

Next level: Enslaved: Journey to the West

Poor Impulse Control

This week Toys R Us is doing a Buy 2, Get 1 Free sale on all video games. You just know I can't pass up a deal.

Damage done:

Castlevania: Lord of Shadows (PS3)

Dead Rising 2 (360)

Enslaved: Journey to the West (PS3)

Now I just have to contain myself so I don't go back and get Borderlands GOTY, Luche Libere, and something else.

Be Adequate...

Game Title: The Orange Box

Developer: Valve

The Orange Box. Sitting on The Shelf of Shame for about two years now, unloved, neglected; a game from a time before the PS3 had trophies.

The Orange Box comes from Valve, the developers behind what is my favorite X-box 360 series, Left 4 Dead. I put about four months into the original Left 4 Dead during the Winter of 2008/Spring 2009, much to my wife's dismay. For not being a big first person shooter fan, I played the hell out L4D, mostly because I enjoy zombies. The game even made me pick up a year subscription to X-box Live, which I learned was a pretty big mistake because I forgot these types of games are usually played by jerk-offs with a very limited vocabulary, one that usually consists of the words gay, fag, queer, homo, motherfucker, and many of their wonderful variations.

So, being a big fan of L4D I thought it was high time to give The Orange Box a crack open. Now, you might be thinking, "The Orange Box? That a rather silly name for a video game." And, you'd be correct, if it was just one game. However, The Orange Box contains not one, not two, but FIVE, games from Valve! Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2, Episode 1, Half Life 2, Episode 2, Team Fortress 2, and Portal. I was familiar with Half Life 2 from all of it's critical acclaim and many of it's fans bitching about the length of time between releases. The same goes with Portal. I have no idea what Team Fortress 2 is and I didn't pick up The Orange Box to find out (I think it's all about multi-player, which I'm not the biggest fan of). Sorry Team Fortress 2, you shall remain unloved and neglected.

Since I didn't finish Half Life 1, I don't know how much time has transpired between the events of HL1 and HL2. Looks like some nasty stuff with the dimensional portals went down and the people are living in a police state. Sounds like a good time for Bad Ass Scientist Gordon Freeman to show back up and stir some shit up with his crowbar.

In Half Life 2 you drive, shoot, and smash your way through 13 levels of adequate game play. Maybe it's because the game is a little older but there were many times during Half Life and it's two follow up episodes I found myself extremely bored. Uh oh, more Combine soldiers, guess I need to shoot 'em. Another Gravity Gun puzzle? Yay! And, the two vehicle levels felt like they would never end! The final "battle" if you can call it that, was disappointing to say the least, though it was made up for in spades during Chapter 6 of Episode 2!

That's not to say it was all bad. The story is pretty good, the voice acting not bad for an older game, and by the end of Episode 2 I was ready to find out exactly what is going on inside the Bourealis. I'll definitely pick up Half Life 2, Episode 3 or Half Life 3, or whatever the hell Valve is going to call it to find out what happens next.

BONUS LEVEL: Portal

Now for something completely different.

Portal is a puzzle game, set in the world of Half Life at Aperture Science (I think their a rival of Black Mesa, but don't quote me on that and I'm too lazy to research it right now).

In Portal you run through training courses, while being instructed by an unseen voice. These training courses involve a Portal gun, which allows you to cast both orange and blue portals. Enter a blue portal, exit through the orange, and vice versa. You use these portals, along with a good dose of geometry and physics, to pass each training area. Along the way, you begin to realize something is rather hinky at the training center.

I enjoyed Portal and didn't mind that it made me think. The fact that I had it finished in 4.5 hours my first time made me happy as well. I didn't expect to have it completed in one evening. By the end though, I was feeling some of the rooms were a bit tedious and I started getting frustrated because I wanted to be done (and it was getting late so I was cranky). The final battle was a hoot and I had "Still Alive" stuck in my head as I tried to fall asleep.

Overall, my experience with The Orange Box and the citrusy goodness contained within was just adequate. I enjoyed myself but wasn't blown away by any of the game play or stories.

Want to know more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Orange_Box

Next Level: Transformers: The War for Cybertron.

Am I Out of My Mind?!

I need to put a moratorium on new game purchases. Really, I need to or I'll never finish this quest.

A few recent editions over the last fews day:

Demon Souls (PS3)
Transformers: War for Cybertron (PS3)
The Saboteur (PS3)
Blade Kitten (PSN)
Shank (PSN)

Then there are the games I want for Christmas: Vanquish, Enslaved, Dead Rising 2, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2, Electric Boogaloo, and maybe Rock Band 3. Though Rock Band 3's additon of Pro Mode (and $150 guitar to play Pro Mode) keyboard, 3 part harmonies and two versions of each song (for color button pushers and Pro Mode aficionados) has been debating on whether or not my foray into the plastic instrument genre was a very expensive mistake...

Oy vey!

This crowbar is pretty frickin' sweet

Game Title: Half Life

Developed by: Valve

If you know games, you probably know or played Half Life. Originally released on the PC in 1998, Half Life was pretty revoluationary for it's time. I don't know much about it. I picked up the PS2 port and started playing.

You play as Gordon Freeman and scientist who's company accidentally opens a portal to another world/dimension. Then you fight some aliens.

I don't really know what's going on because after 3 hours of playing I quit for the night and forgot to fully save (I had been Quick Saving). So, the next day, no save file. I've gotten so use to my PS3 games auto saving that whenever I play a PS2 game I actually forget to save. It's annoying. It's not the first time (I'm looking at you, Ultimate Spider-Man).

So, Half Life will have to wait, because I got pissed I lost three hours or time and just decided to start Half Life 2 on The Orange Box. Look for a Half Life review sometime in the future.

Want to know more? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_(video_game)

Next Level: The Orange Box/Half Life 2, Half Life 2 episode 1, and Half Life 2 episode 2

Metal Thrashing Mad!!!

Title: Brutal Legend

Developed by: Double Fine

I'm starting this post off proclaiming my love for Jack Black (and my hatred for Jack White). I've dug Jack Black since the first time I saw him in Tim Burton's high underrated "Mars Attacks!" And, I worship at the alter of the D (that's Tenacious D for those of your with head trauma). Dude makes me laugh and I've styled my physique after his. I love singing "Master Exploder" on Rock Band.

So, you can imagine my excitement when Brutal Legend came out last year. It features Jack Black voicing uber-Roadie Eddie Riggs. It's developed by Tim Schaefer and his studio Double Fine, which gave the world the amazing and under appreciated "Pyschonauts." It has an amazing heavy metal soundtrack. The game features voices from Ozzy Osbourne, Lita Ford, Rob Halford, and Lemmy Killmeister. It takes place in a heavy metal world were music is used as a weapon or to heal wounds.

We begin with Eddie, wishing for the days when music was pure. His fellow roadie ask him if he means the 70s. Eddie reponse is this "no, earlier, like, the early 70s." It's Classic Schaefer humor right out of the gate. Eddie finds himself roadieing for a nu-rap/metal poser band called Kabbage Boy. He's built and elaborate set for them. During the show, the stage collapses and Eddie is killed. Blood drips onto his belt buckle, an awesome heavy metal demon skull, lights flash, and Eddie awakens transported to a magical realm. From there, he helps begin a rebellion to help overthrow the vile Lord Doviculous and introduce the people to the power of Metal!

This game is a ton of fun. You can drive around in your super hot rod, called the Deuce, mowing down baddies and looking for bound dragon, all while listening to tracks from The D, Anthrax, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and a ton of other Metal bands. The story is wacky and the graphics fit the fun.

Two complaints. The battles are done as a real-time strategy game. This is where you command fellow troops to attack and defend on the battlefield. I loathe RTS games. I've struggled through each battle.

The second complaint is a major one and now you find out that I did not finish this game. That is because once you reach 90% completion in the game, there is a bug that corrupts your save file if you save the game. I was 19 hours in and had just broken 90% complete and blammo! Stuck on the loading screen. Double Fine has released a patch but published EA has not released it. C'mon EA, get off your ass and fix my game so I can finish.

90% in and I can say Brutal Legend is definitely worth the time. Just don't "Quit and Save" once you hit 90% complete. If you like Jack Black, Metal, and an awesomely original story, pick up Brutal Legend and bang your head!

Want to know more? http://www.brutallegend.com/home.action

Next Level: Half Life

Happy 15th Birthday, Sony Playstation

Now give me some of my life back, please.

We are Sex Bob-Omb!

Game Title: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game

Publisher: Ubisoft

If you follow the blog, you already know I am a Scott Pilgrim fan(atic). Have to books, a few plushies, a shirt, and saw the movie twice (once for free). So when this game was announced, I of course had to have it!

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game, is based on the comic, that spawned the film. However, the game, released to accompany the movie, is more related to the comic than the film, even though all feature the same characters. Confused yet. Please don't be because none of it really matters. What really matters is this game kicks ass!

Released on the Playstation Network and X-Box Marketplace so you won't find this in store, SPVTWTG features old school game play that harkens back to the days of Double Dragon and River City Ransom. You beat up bad guys, collect money, buy upgrades, and get that damn Anamanaguchi soundtrack stuck in your head for days (yes, it's that good).

You can play as Scott, Ramona, Stephen Stills, and/or Kim Pine. You can have up to four players at once trashing baddies, in off-line co-op, which is a blessing to me as I don't care for online multiplayer. So you and three of your nearest and dearest can get some good epic quality time in there.

Did I mention this game kicks ass? I played the hell out of this thing, 100% on the trophies baby! Finished the game with all four character, unlocked Mr. and Ms. Chau and random strikers, unlocked Nega Scott as the fifth playable character. You name it, I did it.

Also, old school charm are the codes you can enter at the start screen. Down, Up, Right, Down, Up Right, Down, Up, Right, Right, Right (or Dur, Dur, Durrr) turns all the baddies into zombies. There is also a nifty code that unlocks the Power of Love sword from the end of the game so you can use it at the beginning of each world and sub-world. A few other codes exist too but I will let you discover them on your own.

So, pick this up. It's $10. It's about 20-25 hours worth of game play to unlock everything. The graphics are amazing, the music tremendous, and like everything Scott Pilgrim, the overall experience is epic.

Next Level: Brutal Legend

By the Gods!

Game Title: God of War Collection

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

God of War. It's been around a few years now and it's one of the more popular series for the Playstation 2 and 3. I have and have beaten both God of War 1 and 2 on the PS2 when they were originally released. I remember enjoying them but finding them a bit difficult.

Last Fall, Sony released this HD collection, redoing GoW 1 and 2 in High-Def, in preparation for God of War 3, which would end the series. For some reason, I just needed these games in Hi-Def. It didn't matter that I already owned them and beat them, I need them amped up on whatever steroids gave Kratos his manly physique. Thanks for some extra Goozex points and the free trading on PS3 titles back in June, I picked this up.

God of War is the story of Kratos, who like to kill things, sometimes even Gods. He was tricked by Ares, the god of War, and became his kill puppet. Until he accidentally killed his wife and child. Kratos then decided he would kill Ares. And so, his journey begins to acquire the powers he needs to beat Ares. Can he succeed?! Well, since there are three games I would safely assume so.

These games are a lot of fun. You slice and dice demons and other supernatural creatures with your Blades of Chaos, powered by Athena herself. You power them up, learn new combos and are then able to slice and dice in new and interesting ways. Lots of blood and dismembered body parts. Yay!

Something has happened to these games though. I remember them being much more difficult than this play through. Maybe it is because I already played them, even though it was years ago, that I did better. I remembered getting to a few sections that I had trouble with initially and blew right through.

Except for the final battle with Ares at the end of GoW 1. Jesus, that was still a bitch and a half. I will man up and admit I had to switch to easy difficulty to finish the game.

So, God of War collection, I thank you for the fun times and the bolstering of my PS3 Trophy count.

Next Level: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game